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Transformative leaders of Massachusetts

Let's Reimagine High School Together

You've imagined a different high school experience for your students. It's time to build it.

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Fellowship Overview

In order to have equity and transformation in our schools, we have to ensure we have it in school leadership. In partnership with the Barr Foundation, Springpoint launched the Transformative Leaders of Massachusetts (TLM) fellowship and welcomed the inaugural cohort in the summer of 2022. We are excited to share that applications for our second cohort are now open.

As TLM Fellows, educators participate in a two-year leadership program focused on preparing emerging leaders to do high school differently. The experience builds their leadership capacity and instructional expertise so that fellows can become innovative leaders and change agents in their schools and communities. Fellows are supported in leveraging their strengths, building a community of thought partners, and preparing for the next step of their personal leadership pathway.

Fellows engage in powerful learning experiences focused on providing:

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A deep focus on instructional and student-centered leadership in service of leading for equity and transformation

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Personalized pathways for fellows to design their individual leadership journey

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Hands-on learning through an apprenticeship that leverages on-the-job learning in their current school, as well as visits to innovative high schools across the country

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A diverse, intimate learning cohort of fellows fostering community and thought partnership

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Layered support structures that include deep individual coaching, concrete mentorship, and connections with innovative educators across Massachusetts

Springpoint works to build a future where schools prepare every student to succeed.

We believe that school leaders can and must be catalysts, change agents, and champions to reimagine school in service of equity and belonging. In this fellowship, we strive to prepare fellows to design and lead schools worthy of the students they serve, ensuring equitable, quality, transformative experiences and outcomes for all students.

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Fellowship Year 1

  • Apprenticeship in home school with additional leadership responsibilities to ensure robust field experiences
  • Rigorous monthly programming on essential leadership skills, focusing on instructional leadership, student-centered culture, and setting and up holding a vision
  • Coordinated support from a school-based mentor and program coach

Fellowship Year 2

  • Expanded leadership responsibilities in home school; differentiated pathways based on interest and readiness for school leadership
  • Monthly programming including master classes, consultancies, and school design planning
  • Personalized coaching to enhance, deepen, and sustain essential leadership skills
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Post Fellowship

  • Engagement for all fellows continues through an alumni network
  • Potential opportunities for alums interested in designing or immediately taking over schools to receive extended coaching.

Join Us

Join the Transformative Leaders of Massachusetts Fellowship and help us blaze a new path in high school leader preparation. Together, we can design school differently, lead school differently, and create a new definition of school community.

Why Apply?

Apply here

Learn More

Current high school educators (teachers or novice assistant principals) with a desire to explore high school leadership and develop in school design. This can include:

  • Teachers with a minimum of 5 years teaching experience including some teacher leader experience (grade level or department chair, professional learning community leader, project lead, etc.)
  • Current assistant principals, deans, and other administrators in their first or second year of leadership looking to learn and employ transformative leadership tools in their current settings. Current administrators should also meet the 5 year minimum of teaching experience.
  • Educators with a deep belief and investment in reimagining high school and committed to equity, student-centered culture, and serving all students
  • Middle school educators with an interest in secondary schools are also encouraged to apply.
  • Educators who reflect the diverse population of the students in Massachusetts

Early January: Application Live!

February 29: Application Closes

March 14: NEW APPLICATION DEADLINE

Mid April: Finalist notification

Early May: Finalist Interview

Mid May: Selection Notification

June: Cohort 2 Fellows Announced

July: TLM Launches with 2 weeks of summer programming

As we prepare to launch TLM, we are excited to engage with you to get to know you better and answer any outstanding questions you may have. Get in touch:

FAQs

Have additional questions? Please check out the flyer below or email us at fellowship@springpointschools.org. Want to refer a colleague to the fellowship? Please submit their names using the referral form below.

I don't live in Massachusetts! Can I still apply for the fellowship?

This program is specifically for educators working in schools located in the state of Massachusetts. Candidates who live outside the state but work in the state are eligible to apply.

Who is eligible?

We welcome educators from all types of public secondary schools across the state of Massachusetts (district, charter, alternative, etc).

I teach in an elementary school, but I'm invested in reimagining school. Is this for me?

Our focus is on reinventing secondary schools, so we are not seeking current elementary school educators. We are of course interested in candidates who have experience at the elementary level but currently teach or will teach in a secondary school.

I'm currently a principal - but this sounds like exactly the kind of development I want and need! Can I apply?

Current assistant principals in their first or second year of leadership, looking to learn and employ transformative leadership tools in their current settings are encouraged to apply. Note that current administrators should also meet the 5 year minimum of teaching experience.

I'm not sure if I want to become a principal down the road. Is this fellowship still for me?

This program allows fellows to explore their interest in school leadership - as such, fellows should see a future in which they will ultimately become an administrator or principal, and have an interest and desire to learn more about the pathways to leadership.

I have a job! I like my job! Can I stay at my school in this fellowship?

Yes! This fellowship is designed for emerging and new leaders to stay in their school while building their leadership capacity. We will work with your school administration to make room in your schedule, identify your apprenticeship hours, and craft a gradual on-ramp for leadership and school design activities.

What is the time commitment for the fellowship?

Fellows should expect 10-12 hours of programming per month. This will be a combination of school release days, Saturdays, and evenings. In addition to programming, fellows should expect 5-10 hours of assignments per month of reading, inquiry projects, and preparation for the fellows who are seeking licensure. Given how busy educators are, we will endeavor to make time commitment manageable and purposeful.

Is there compensation for the fellowship?

Yes, fellows will earn a stipend of $20,000 over two years (in addition to their current salary).

How many fellows will be selected?

For our 2nd cohort, we are seeking 12-18 fellows.

Inaugural Cohort of TLM

Our first cohort of fellows brought a unique set of experiences, backgrounds, and skill sets but shared a passion for creating a high school experience that will transform education as we know it. We are so proud of their growth and the many ways that they are impacting the lives of the children and families of the communities they serve!

Testimonials

“There is a sense of belonging when I’m at the TLM fellowship, whether it’s riding a hot bus in Mississippi or sitting in a nice hotel room in Worcester, I never feel alone. I feel seen. I feel like the work that we are working on is designed for me and most importantly for the students that I am hoping that I will impact in my work.”

—Lucille Germain, TLM Fellow

“My advisors have helped me grow as a leader because they serve as a sounding board. There’s someone who I can go to and say, ‘Hey, I’m a first year leader. This is something that I’m struggling with’ and we are able to sit down and weigh the pros and cons and talk about my development. It reminds me to be constantly reflecting on who I am as a leader and what kind of leader I ultimately want to be.”

—Phelipe Johnson, TLM Fellow

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